We are winding down on campaigning as Election Day is today.  Going out to the neighborhoods and visiting with you has been very inspiring.  My passion for public education and all that we can do to help parents bring the best educational opportunities to our children keeps me motivated to serve.  We all have a vested interest whether we have no children or 20 in our public schools. An educated citizenry is the cornerstone of our freedoms and keeps America great.
 
You have been receiving campaign literature from my opponent about Alpine School District’s budget. Let me share some real facts.

• Largest district in the state – one of the lowest funded districts in the state.
• Best managed district in the state. Recognized for excellence in finance reporting by national associations of business and finance officers for 29 years. (ASBO, GFOA)
• 73 cents of every tax dollar goes to instruction and the classroom.  (2^nd highest in the state – Utah Taxpayer Association)
• ½ cent of every tax dollar goes to district administration. (lowest in state)

Budget process:

• Budget committee including 3 board members, representatives district-wide, superintendent, business department
• Several months of compiling, vetting, revisions
• Study session with full board – more vetting and revisions
• Board meeting – Discussion item – more vetting
• Board meeting – action item – vote taken

Business department personnel:  MBA’s, CPA’s, financial analysts, engineers.
 
Alpine School District has a culture of learning and excelling.  Here’s why:

• Professional Learning Communities embedded at every school
• Parent Involvement (PTA’s, SCC, DCC, school & district committees & forums)
• Paid collaboration time for every team and department
• Teachers treated as professionals – High Morale
• Curriculum developed in the classroom by the teacher
• High standards
• Gifted and Talented and Special Needs programs. Educating every child.
• Failure is not an option 

 
My experience, involvement and time make me the best candidate for school board. (Usually 20 -30 hours per week) I am in schools, classrooms and the community listening to your voice. I attend all my board and committee meetings. My opponent has come to parts of 2 board meetings since filing for office in March. We have had 10. 
 
Keep Alpine School District Great!
Vote JoDee Sundberg for School Board
Tuesday November 4th

Click to View Debate from 10/23/2014 on YouTube

Unsolicited Support from ASD Teacher 

I received this letter today from one of my supporters. A teacher. He has allowed me to share it with you. Thank you to all the many teachers who have supported me as a board member and as a candidate. He contacted me Unsolicited.

Dear Alpine School District Resident:
I am a teacher in the Alpine School District, and I am asking for your help. You probably aren't aware of how critical this upcoming school board election is. I have no insider information, but if you look at Superintendent Henshaw’s tenure and compare the amount of gray hair he has now to his picture from just a few years ago, it is likely he is closing in on retirement. In my opinion, he will leave a legacy of excellence in the Alpine School District. A superintendent provides the leadership and direction for all educators and students in a district. Our upcoming school board will likely select a new Superintendent. That means that this next election will profoundly impact the future of approximately 73,000 students and 15,000 educators and support staff. You need to study the candidates, and you need to get out and vote!
I am suggesting that the following individuals have the right vision and capability to lead Alpine forward.

• Paula Hill (Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs and Cedar Valley area)
• Lynn Mower (Alpine, Highland, Cedar Hills and part of Pleasant Grove area)
• John Burton (American Fork and part of Pleasant Grove area) 
• Jodee Sundberg (Orem area).

I have taught junior high math in Alpine for nearly ten years. It has been my privilege and blessing to do so. I am passionate about mathematics, and I am passionate about students’ success. I have experienced success teaching at-risk students and gifted learners. I have consistently seen Alpine’s student learning be among the best in the state.
Here are a few of the successes I have witnessed:

•  Statewide assessments consistently ranked well above the state average.
•  Schools tests results consistently ranked among the highest in the state.
•  Multiple schools awarded “Best of State”.
•  Our superintendent being named superintendent of the year.
•  Principals being named principal of the year.
•  A school receiving a National Blue Ribbon Award.
•  Funding for core and elective subjects alike.
•  Stability in a shrinking economy.
•  Multiple fiscal responsibility awards received.

I attribute this success to leadership and a foundation of sound principles. Local control is a reality in Alpine. Alpine works to make sure that the most important decisions and discussions happen at the school level. Alpine believes the key to student improvement is continuous adult improvement. With the principles that are already in place and embraced in Alpine there will always be progress. Here is what they do to ensure it.

• Teachers meet to provide a guaranteed and viable curriculum for all students in a school, no matter who the teacher is.
• They develop common assessments so they can gather and compare data to determine what practice results in the highest levels of learning. They plan how to respond when students have not learned the desired targets.
• The seek ways to meet the needs of at-risk learners and gifted learners alike.

I believe that Alpine is headed in the right direction. A district does not do this alone. This vision and leadership development only flourishes when a community and a school board share that same vision. We have been very lucky to have such a school board. They understand where the real power lies in Alpine, and they have paved the way to great things. Please get out and vote on Tuesday, November 4th. Please research the candidates to know their vision of Alpine. Please consider Paula Hill, Lynn Mower, John Burton, and Jodee Sundberg.

Thank you for your time.
Patrick Fossat
Math Teacher

School Board Elections 2014

For information on the Governors press conference and action items go to the ISSUES tab.

Qualifications:                                    
Alpine School District:
Current Board Member
Current Board Vice President  
Previous Board President (6 years)
Curriculum Committee
 Public Relations Committee
Legislative committee

Utah School Boards Association:
Board of Directors
Executive Com.
Legislative Com.
Education Coalition
Governors Education Commission - Have served as a member of this commission since it beginning
Utahns For Public Schools
National School Boards Association - Board of Directors

ASD Positive Pathways to Student Success:
                  2009-2013
Growth: 9,820 new students
Graduation rate: 71% -  86%
CRTs:   Language Arts – 83% - 89%
                Math – 75% - 82%
                Science – 68% – 82%
 AP Honor Roll recipient 1 of 3 districts in State


Mountain View High School Cluster physical improvements:

• Rebuild of Cherry Hill Elementary
• Rebuild of Westmore Elementary
• New gym at Mountain View High School 
• New gym and classrooms at Orem Jr. High

PTA member 29 years
Former Teacher – ASD
Parent of 4 children – ASD graduates
Grandparent to 11 – 5 currently in ASD

I am passionate about the work of serving students, families and
my community in ASD. I have invested many hours a week to help all
children who enter our doors find a bright and successful pathway of
becoming contributing members to our communities. I would love to
continue to serve and would ask for your support.

Orem Elementary wins a $100,000.00 grant!

Orem Elementary wins a $100,000.00 grant!

It has been said that when one door closes, another one opens. Well, in the case of Orem Elementary, when one opportunity fell short, something better came along and blew all the doors off!

For the months of November and December, passionate parents from Orem Elementary were working diligently to win a grant funded by Clorox for $50,000 for a new computer lab. Weeks of canvassing schools and community events asking for text votes toward their cause, they quickly raised in the polls to number 5, out of almost a thousand schools around the country competing for the grant. They did not make it to first place by the deadline. A lot of hard work seemed for not.

But during the push, one of the moms, Shari Warnick came upon the announcement on the Ellen DeGeneres Show Website, announcing that Ellen and Target were partnering to give away $5 million dollars—50 grants of $100,000 each—to deserving schools. So the same group of passionate parents began to turn their attention to this new cause. Many answered the request and responded to “in 2,500 word or less, tell us why you think your school deserves this grant”.

Orem Elementary missed the requirement to receive Title I funding by a small percentage. This means they do not receive government grant money to buy necessities such as a much needed computer lab. When concerned parents understood the plight, they took matters into their own hands. And in the end, the handful of parents, including two sisters, Shari and Julie, lead a charge that hundreds of people added their energy and support to bring results…even in a different form than intended, but for double the reward. When all was reviewed, the Target representative admits that Julie Hale’s comments had the impact on the committee that awarded them the grant.

Monday morning, the excitement was buzzing at Orem Elementary. In an assembly held for the school and community, a team from Target presented Principal Rachelle Bolingbroke with a check for $100,000. Following the presentation, the gym was filled with confetti, balloons, and music played by the Iron Horse Band as the students, staff, and community celebrated.

Orem Elementary will use the money for a new computer lab and have money left over to bring other technology upgrades to their school. Congratulations to Orem Elementary!